Cash register



Aug. 30, 1932.

W. H. ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Sept. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheetgnue'rfloz William H. Robertson affonwuyq Aug. 30', 1932. w. H.ROBERTSON CASH REGISTER Filed Sept. 4. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet gnw'nfozWilliam H. Robertson By M Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WILLIAM H.-ROBERTSON, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONALCASH REG- ISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND oAsnREGISTER Application filed. September 4, 1929. Serial No. 390,319.

This invention relates to improvements in registers, calculatingmachines and the like,

and, for convenience, is shown applied to a type'of machine, the generalprinciples of which are disclosed in Letters Patent of the United StatesNo. 1,816.263, issued on August 4, 1931. to lVilliam H. Robertson, andin the applications of William H. Robertson for Letters Patent of theUnited States, Serial Nos. 169.583 and 172,660, filed February 19,

1927, and-March 4, 1927, respectively.

In adding operations on machines of the above type, the keysrepresenting the amountto be added, are depressed to arrest thedifferential actuators associated with each bank or denomination ofkeys, on the advance of such actuators from their normal positions.Before the amount actuators start their return movements, but after theyhave been arrested by the depressed keys, the totalizer is engagedtherewith, so that the actuators on their return, will accumulate on thetotalizer the amount corresponding with the values of the keysdepressed. After the actuators return to their home positions, thetotalizer is disengaged therefrom preparatory to a succeeding operation.

In total taking operations, this condition is reversed. The total lever,when adjusted, sets the machine to cause the totalizer to engage itsactuators before the latter start their excursions. so that as theactuators advance they turn the totalizer wheels in reverse directionfrom that in which the wheels turn in adding operations.

Thelextent of advance of the differential actuators from their normalpositions determined by the amount previously /registered, and when thetotalizer wheels reach their zero positions. they arrest the actuatorsagainst further advance. The totalizer is then disconnected from itsactuators and the latter are restored idly to their normal positions.Heretofore. during a totaling operation, if a key of a lower value thanthe digital amount on the denominational totalizer wheel associatedtherewith. was accidentally or intentionally depressed, the extent oftravel of the differential actuator from its normal position, would bedetermined by the key, and

not by the digital amount accumulated on the wheel during addingoperations. This condition would result in the machine indieating andprinting an incorrect total, and permit of inaccurate records.

In repeat operations, which in machines of the type mentioned, areeffected without the use of the keyboard, mechanism set by the lastprevious operatlon, controls the excursions of the several actuators, sothat they will advance only to the extents permitted on the previousoperation. During such operations, if a key of lower value than thedigit to be registered, is depressed, the actuator associated therewithwill be arrested by the depressed key, while the mechanism forcontrolling the repeat operation will tend to force the actuator to thefull extent of travel it received during the previous transaction. Thiscondition would strain or break the parts, or otherwise injure themachine, and render it-useless.

In the commercial manufacture of machines in quantities, it is notpractical to adhere strictly to the dimensions on the drawings. Inquantity production, therefore, it is possible now and then that amachine will'be assembled in which some of the parts will be affordedmore than the necessary amount of play, and when this conditionprevails, it might be possible to make a repeat or a total takingoperation while amount keys are in their depressed positions. theforegoing, however, that any amount key remaining depre ssed duringtotal taking or repeat operations, results in the printing andindicating of incorrect totals, or causes a serious disorganization ofthe mechanism, which requires the services of a mechanic to repair.

For these and other reasons, it has been customary, therefore, toprovide various forms of interlocks in cash registers and similarmachines, to prevent theaccidental or intentional depression of amountand special keys in total taking or repeat operations.

One object of this invention is to eliminate the interlocks, hithertoconsidered necessary in total taking and repeat ope-rations.

Another objectof this invention is to si'rn- It is obvious from plifyand improve the repeat mechanism shown in Robertsons application, SerialNo. 169,583, above referred to, and to a great extent, render themachine immune to misoperation either accidental or intentional. As aresult, the accidental or intentional depression of amount keys duringtotaling or repeatoperations, will have no effect upon the excursions ofthe totalizer actuators, and the danger of incorrect results and ofdamage and injury to the machine will be avoided.

As one convenient way to accomplish the above objects, means is providedto disable the usual inter-relation between the actuators and the keys,by equipping the actuators with flexible extensions shiftable, into andout of effective position relativey to the keys, and controlled as totheir effectiveness, by the means which controls the machine for makingrepeat or total taking operations, to allow the diflerential actuatorsto complete their excursions from and towards normal position,notwithstanding the presence of improperly depressed keys in their pathsof travel. By such arrangement, the flexible or shiftable extensionswith which each of the respective differential actuators are equipped,may be positioned to cooperate with the inner end of their respectivekeys to arrest the differential actuators at the points in their pathsof travel, on adding operations, such extensions being shifted out ofeffective position relatively to the inner ends of the keys, if any bedepressed. during total taking and repeat operations, to enable thedifferential actuators to complete their excursions, irrespective of anydepressed key or keys in their paths of travel.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includescertain novel features of construction and combination of parts. theessential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of the machine takensubstantiallythrough the center, and shows an improved differentialactuator equipped with a flexible extension, and means to shift theflexible extension out of cooperative relation with the keys.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the means which controls the positions of theflexible extensions of the differential actuators.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the total taking lever, showing its controlof the shifting means for the flexible extensions.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a repeat key, with its control of theshifting means for the flexible extensions.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the differential actuator drivingmechanism.

Detail description The illustrative machine is provided with a pluralityof key frames 30, (Fig. 1), supported side by side on cross rods 31mounted at their opposite ends in the right and left side frames 32,only one of which is shown. A denominational row of depressible keys 33is slidably mounted in each key frame 30 to control the extent of travelof the difierential actuators 35, through which the setting of thedenominational type carriers, the indicators, and the addition ofamounts into the totalizers 7 O is effected. Each key 33 carries a studnot shown) which cooperates with its appropriate hook on a retainingdetent bar 29 to retain the keys when depressed, in such positions untilreleased near the end of each adding operation. Springs 34 restore thekeys to their normal positions when released by the retaining detent bar29.

The inner end of any of the keys 33 in any row. when depressed. entersthe path of travel of its corresponding denominational actuator 35,comprising, in the present instance, a differentially adjustable toothedsegment pivoted on a rock shaft 36 journaled in the side frames 32. Auniversal restraining and restoring bar 38 carried by arms 39 (see alsoFig. 5) fast on a rock shaft 36, normally lies in the paths of theseveral differential actuators 35 to hold them in their home positionsagainst the tensions of their individual springs 46.

The keys 33, when depressed, also displace zero stop pawls 37 inthe'corresponding banks. which pawls normally lie in the paths of thediflerential actuators 35 to arrest the latter upon an operation of themachine, in case no keys are depressed in the correspondingdenominational banks.

To effect an operation of the machine, the main drive shaft 43 (Fig. 5)is given one complete rotation counter-clockwise. in any suitable andwell-known manner. Cams 41 and 42 fast on the main drive shaft impart arocking movement first counter-clockwise and then clockwise. to atransmitting lever 44 pivoted at 45. the arms of which lever embrace thecams. One arm of the transmitting lover 44 carries teeth 46 in mesh withteeth 47 on a disk 48 fast to one arm 39 of the restraining andrestoring element, so that as the transmitting lever 44 rocks, it swingsthe restraining and restoring bar 38 first clockwise away from thedifferential actuators thereby freeing the latter to the actions oftheir springs 40. and then counter-clockwise to cause the bar 38 torestore the actuators 35 to their home positions.

An abutment 49 lies in the path of travel of opposed faces on one of thearms 39 to arrest the restraining and restoring bar 38 at either limitof its travel, to prevent overthrow thereof.

In adding operations, the operator first depresses the proper keys 33 toset up the amount to be accumulated, and then operates the main driveshaft 43 to withdraw the restraining bar 38 from in front of thedifferential actuators 35, whereupon the springs 40 will rock theactuators forwardly in clockwise direction until the latter contact andare arrested by the inner ends of the depressed keys 33, or by the zeroarresting pawls 37 in those banks wherein no keys have been depressed.At about the time the restraining and restoring bar reaches its farthestposition from home, the totalizer is rocked into mesh with the actuatorsby well known means, after which the restraining bar 38 retraces itspath to its home position, picking up and returning the advancedactuators, and as the advanced actuators are thus restored, they rotatetheir corresponding totalizer wheels 70 to accumulate thereon the amountset up on the keyboard. The wheels comprising the totalizer 70 arejournaled on a shaft 7 5 carried by arms 76 fast on a shaft 69, suitablemeans (not shown) being provided to rock the shaft 69 to engage thetotalizer with and disengage .it from the actuators.

Upon the restoration of the actuators 35, the totalizer 70 is disengagedtherefrom, and the depressed keys 33 released and restored preparatoryto another operation of the machine.

Each actuator 35 (Fig. 1) has associated therewith an individual toothedsegment 57 journaled on the shaft 36, the actuators and their segmentsbeing arranged in pairs along the shaft, and being jointly controlled bythe common restraining bar 38.

Normally, a broad pinion 56 journaled on a rod 68 swung by arms 67 froma shaft 66 journaled in the side frames 32, couples its correspondingactuator with its segment, there being a separate pinion for each pairor group. The segments 57 are each equipped with toothed sectors 71 inmesh with gears 72 fast on the inner ends of a nest of concentricsleeves 73 surrounding and rotatable about a supporting shaft 74journaled in the side frames. The sleeves control the positions of typecarriers (not shown) to accord with the values of the particular keys 33depressed. A series of intermediate gears 80 journaled for independentrotation on a cross rod 79 mounted in the side frames 32. mesh with therespective gears 7 2 and with pinions 81 fast with indicator wheels 82journaled on a cross rod 83 ettending between the side frames 32.

Aligner fingers 84 fast on a cross shaft 85 journaled in the side frames32 engage th indicator pinions 81 to lock the latter and their wheels inadjusted positions.

Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, and that anadding operation is to be performed, rotation of the main drive shaft 43(Fig. 5) operates through means (not shown) to rock a shaft 58 (Fig. 4)having an arm 59 fast thereon, and releasably connected by a link 60with an arm 65 fast on the rock shaft 66 to which the arms 67 of thecoupling gear frame are also secured. The arm 65 carries a stud 64 whichfits in a notch 63 in the link 60 so that when the shaft 58 rocksclockwise and then counter-clockwise in timed relation with the rockingof the transmitting lever 44 (Fig. 5) controlling the swinging of therestraining bar 38, the shaft 66 is rocked'to disengage the couplingwheels 56 from the pairs of companion members 35 and 57, after which thetransmitting lever 44 operates to draw the restraining and restoring bar38 away from the actuators 35 to free them to the action of their drivesprings 40.

In the positions shown in Fig. 1, the restraining bar 38 reaches itsfarthest limit of travel at the time it touches the faces 89 on thesegments 57. Meanwhile the actuators 35 corresponding with thosedenominations wherein keys have been depressed, have advanced with therestraining bar 38 and relatively to their companion segments 57, untilarrested by the inner ends of the depressed keys, as heretoforeexplained, and the shaft 69 has been rocked by mechanism, not shown, toengage the totalizer 7 O with the actuators.

Substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the totalizer wheels70 with the actuators 35, the shaft 58 rocks counter-clockwise to rockthe shaft 66 and restore the coupling gears 56 to effective position, sothat, as the restraining bar 38, on its return, picks up and restoresthe advanced actuators 35 to register on the totalizer the amount setupon the keyboard, the actuators will correspondingly rotate thecoupling gears 56 and rock the companion segments 57 counter-clockwiseto the same extents that the actuators have ad- .vanced. For instance,if the units actuator 35 advanced five steps and the tens actuatoradvanced two steps. they will, on their return i to normal retiredpositions, rock their companion segments 57 a respective correspondingnumber of steps, so that at the end of the operation, the units segment57 will have traveled five steps counter-clockwise from the positionshown in Fig. 1, and the tens segment 57 will have moved two steps, inwhich positions they remain until the next operation of the machine.

Obviously, the segments 57 in their counterclockwise travel, turn thegears 72 to set the type carriers (not shown) to print the amount set upon the keyboard, and through the intermediate pinions 80, set theindicator wheels 82 to display the same. amount. Timed means, not shown,disengages the aliner fingers 84 from the indicator pinions 81 to enablethe indicator wheels to be set, and after the setting has beenaccomplished, the aliner fingers are restored to effective positions toprevent accidental displacement of the indicator wheels and typecarriers.

On the succeeding operation, the restraining bar 38, on its outwardtravel, restores the segments 57 to their zero positions, and in sodoing (the aliner fingers 84 being withdrawn) returns the type carriersand indicator wheels to their zero positions, from which they areadjusted in accordance with the new amount set up on the keyboard,during the return of the restraining bar 38 to its normal home position.

Repeat key control of stops on the dz'ficrcnzial actuators In machinesof the class described, a repeat hey lever 62 (Fig. 4) pivots on theshaft 36, and when depressed, sets mechanism to effect repeated additionon the totalizer of the last amount for which the parts have beenadjusted, as fully set forth in application, Serial No. 169,583, filedFebruary 19, 1927, above mentioned.

In repeat operations, the differentially positioned companion segments57 control the extent to which the diii'erential actuators shalladvance, in accordance with the last setting of such companion segments,whether under control of the keys 33, as in adding 0perat-ions, or ofthe totalizer wheels 70, as in totaling operations.

The repeat key 62 conditions the machine to repeatedly add the lastamount for which the parts have been adjusted, by interrnpting the drivebetween the rock shaft 66, and the shaft- 58. As previously stated thelink leading from the rock arm 59 has a notch 63 to fit over the stud 64on the arm fast on the rock shaft (36. The upper end of the link 60 hasa pin 53 entered in a slot in the inner arm of the repeat key lever 62.

Depression of the repeat key 62 rocks the link (30 clockwise, throughthe pin and slot (31 to disengage the notch 63 of the link from the stud64; mounted in the arm 65 fast on the shaft 66, so that no motion willbe communicated from the shaft 58 to the coupling gear frame, and thecoupling gears 56 remain in mesh With their respective pairs ofactuators and the companion segments 57. throughout the entire operationof the machine. The repeat key 62 is provided with an open-ended slot 86coo 'ierating wit-h the stud 6-1 to latch the rock shaft 66 in its setposition, when the link 60 is disengaged from the stud 64, and thus holdthe coupling gears 56 in effective positions.

Referring to Fig. 1. it can be seen that when the companion segments 57are in their zero or home positions, to which they are returned by anidle or blank operation of the machine, they position: the upper ends ofarcuate slots 87, one of which is formed in the slots 87 of therespective mtermediate gears 80.

In an adding operation the actuators 35 operate through the couplingpinions 56, as explained, to impart to their companion segments 57,extents of travel in counter-clockwise direction, corresponding to theadvance permitted the respective actuators.

The number of steps of movement given the companion segments 57 fromtheir zero positions by the actuators 35, through the coupling gears 56,positions the upper ends of the arcuate slots 87 in the intermediategears 80 a like number of steps from the arresting rod 88, the segments57 and intermediate gears 80 remaining in their adjusted positions atthe end of the operation. Therefore, on repeat operations, as therestraining and restoring bar 38 starts its closkwise excursion, theactuators 35, under tension of their springs 40, advance with therestraining bar, and through the coupling gears 56, rock theirrespective companion segments 57 in the same direction.

The distances the respective actuators 35 are permitted to advance fromtheir home positions, are determined by the distances to which the upperends of the slots 87 of the intermediate gears 80 have been positionedfrom the arresting rod 88 in the previous operation. As viewed in Fig.1, the actuator 35 there shown, would be held, on a repeat operation,against any clockwise movement, due to the companion segment 57associated therewith being in its zero position, with the upper end ofthe slot 87 in its intermediate gear 80 substantially in contact withthe rod 88. However, if, on the previous operation, the companionsegment 57 had been advanced five steps, for example, from its zeroposition, it would have positioned the intermediate gear 80 with theupper end of the arcuate slot 87 therein a corresponding number of stepsfrom the arresting rod 88, so that on a succeeding repeat operation, theactuator 35, under the influence of the spring 40 associated therewith,would be permitted an advance equal to the number of steps the end ofthe arcuate slot 87 was distant from the transverse rod 88.

As the restraining and restoring rod 38 starts its returncounter-clockwise movement to normal position, it picks up the actuators35 that were permitted to advance and re stores them to their normalpositions, the actuators, in turn, through the coupling gears 56, againpositioning the companion segments 57 associated therewith and theirtrains of gearing an equal number of steps from their Zero positions,thus repeating the transaction of the previous operation.

The foregoing is fully illustrated in the above-mentioned applications,and a thorough understanding of the machine can be ha by referencethereto.

N ooel feature Heretofore, in machines of the type to which thisinvention isapplicd, when it was desired to again add the amount lastset up on the keyboard, for instance, or to reaccumulate the total,providing it was taken on the last previous operation of the machine,the operator merely depressed the repeat key disclosed in theapplication for patent of Robertson, Serial No. 169,583, filed February19, 1927, and if necessary, operated the handle. It will be noted thatall keys 33 remain in their undepressed positions during a repeatoperation, but with all of the keys 33 in such positions, it wasnecessary to provide means controlled by the repeat key, to displace thezero stop pawls 37 which ordinarily prevent the advance of the actuators35 in those denominations wherein no keys have been depressed.

Furthermore, since the depression of a key 33 of lower value in anydenomination wherein a digit of higher value is to be added on a repeatoperation, would result in adding some lesser amount than the amountwhich it was desired to add on a repeat operation, interlocking meansbetween the repeat key 62 and the amount keys 33 had to be provided, soarranged that upon depression of therepeat key, no amount keys could bedepressed, and vice versa.

However, in the commercial manufacture of machines in quantities, it waspossible that the interlocking mechanism would not be properly adjusted,as a result of which, the operator, either intentionally oraccidentally, could depress an amount key just prior to actuating themachine on a repeat operation. Thus, if a key 33 of lower denominationin one of the rows, be depressed when taking a repeat operation, forexample, the key in the first or 1 position, while the companion segment57 is in its fifth position from zero, the restraining and restoring rod38 will start its clockwise movement,

' releasing the actuator 35, which will follow under the influence ofits spring 40 until restrained by the depressed key in the firstposition. The companion segment 57, being coupled to the actuator 35 bythe pinion 56, will move only one step towards its zero position. Thecontinued clockwise movement of the restraining and restoring bar 38will contact the face 89 of the companion segment 57 to restore it toits zero position, but the companion segment being coupled to theactuator will be restrained from movement by the depressed key in thepath of travel of the adding segment 35. This would result in the partsbeing strained and broken, rendering the machine useless until theservice of a mechanic could be employed to replace and repair the brokenparts.

The provision of the repeat key controlled means to disable the zeroarresting stops, and the interlocking mechanism between the repeat keyand the amount keys materially increased the cost of manufacture, andnecessltated a considerable expenditure of time and skill to properlyinstall and adjust.

The present invention is designed to obviate all of the foregoingdisadvantages, and results, in the provision of a less expensive machineand one which the operator cannot force to render wrong results in themanner above set forth.

Heretofore, the actuators 35 have been each provided with a projectionor stop rigid with its actuator, to contact its zero stop pawl 37 or theinner end of the particular key depressed, and it was because of thisconstruction that the various disabling and interlockmg mechanismsreferred to, were required.

In the present invention, adjustable stops or pro ections 55 aresubstituted for the former rigid form. These adjustable stops are alsoreferred to as flexible means because they may be shifted into and outof effective position, as an incident to conditioning the machine toperform its various operations, as adding, repeat additions, andtotaling.

Conveniently, the flexible stops or projections 55 comprise slides, oneof which is applied to each of the actuators 35, the slides beingslotted to accommodate the guide and supporting pins 111 carried by theactuators.

The outer ends of the slides 55 project beyond the peripheries of theirrespective actuators and preferably terminate in lateral cars 54 whichnormally lie beneath the zero stop pawls 37 when the actuators 35 are intheir home positions, and when the zero stop pawls are displaced,traverse a path intersected by the inner ends of the keys 33, and arearrested by contact with such of the keys as are depressed.

Obviously, the actuators 35 are arrested substantially in their homepositions, by contact of the outer ends of the slides 55 with the zerostop pawls 37 in those denominational banks wherein no keys have beendepressed.

The restraining bar 38 completes its clockwise travel, notwithstandingthe arrest of the actuators 35 by the zero stop pawls 37 or by the keys33, the actuators remaining where arrested, until picked up by therestraining bar on its return stroke, as heretofore explained.

To render the actuators 35 immune to the depression of any of the keys33 during a repeat operation, and to obviate the necessity forinter-locking mechanism between the keys 33 and the repeat key 62, meansis provided whereby when making a re eat operation, the projections 55are with rawn from the positions wherein they cooperate with the zerostop pawls 37 and with the inner 32. There is anindividual adjusting armfor each slide or flexible stop 55, the adjusting arms, each having apin and slot connection 106 with a corresponding finger 105 of a seriesof such fingers, one for each adjusting arm, fast on an adjusting orcontrol shaft 100 journaled in the side frames 32. A spring 101 securedto one arm of a lever 102 fast on the adjusting shaft 100, normallyholds the adjusting shaft with its fingers 105 at one limit of itsoscillatory movement, wherein the fingers 105 have rocked the adjustingarms 107 counter-clockwise to shift the flexible stops 55 to theireffective positions with their ears 54 beneath the zero stop pawls 37,and in position to be arrested by the inner end of any depressed key 33.

A stud 103 (Fig. 4) projects laterally from the repeat key lever 62 intothe plane of the other arm 104 of the lever 102 having an open-ended camslot 112 formed in the end thereof, and limits the clockwise movement ofthe adjusting shaft 100 after it has positioned the ears 54 of the stops55 beneath the zero stop pawls 37.

As the repeat key 62 is depressed, its stud 103 will enter the cam slot112 of the arm 104, to rock the lever 102, and the adjusting shaft 100,with its fingers 105 in counterclockwise direction. As a result, thefingers 105 rock the adjusting arms 107 in clockwise direction to shiftthe flexible stops 55 rearwardly to withdraw the ears 54 fromcooperative relation with the zero stop pawls 37 and the inner ends ofthe depressed keys 33, so that the actuators 35 are free to rockclockwise irrespective of any depressed key, and of the zero stop pawls.Mechanism (not shown) is provided to retain the repeat key lever 62 inits depressed position, until near the end of the operation, at whichtime it will be released and returned to normal position by its spring117. The repeat key lever 62 as it returns to its normal position,withdraws the stud 103 from the cam slot 112, thereby freeing the lever102, arm 104 and the adjusting shaft 100 with its fingers 105, to theaction of the spring 101, which thereupon restores the parts to theirnormal positions, as determined by the position of the stud 103.

The fingers 105, as they rock clockwise to their normal positions, rockthe adjusting arms 107 counter-clockwise, to draw the flex- .ible stops55 outwardly to their effective positions.

Obviously, owing to the travel of the actuators 35 on which the stops 55are mounted, the connection between the stops and their adjusting arms107 must be such as to permit relative movement, and yet be such thatthe stops 55 on the return of the actuators to normal home positions,shall again be in positigrns to be controlled by the adjusting arms 1 Tothis end, the adjusting arms 107 are forked to accommodate the lugs 110on their respective stops, and the restoration of the repeat key 62 istimed to occur after the return of the actuators 35 to their normalpositions, so that the stops 55 will have resumed their connection withthe adjusting arms 107 before the latter operate to shift the stops totheir effective positions.

Latches 113, pivoted on one of the stopsupporting studs 111, enternotches formed in their respective stops 55, to yieldingly hold thestopsin either effective or ineffective positons relatively to thedepressed keys. The latch springs 114 are readily overcome by thefingers 105 and adjusting arms 107. As the restraining bar 38 allows theactuators 35 to advance under the influence of their respective springs40, the lugs 110 of the stops 55 on the actuators, disengage themselvesfrom the open ends of the slots 109 of the respective adjusting arms107, and the latches 113 then hold the stops in their proper positionsagainst accidental displacement. The ends of the slots 109 in theadjusting arms 107 are beveled to insure the re-entry of the lugs 110 ofthe stops 55 in the slots on Lheir return to normal position.

It will be noted, that the withdrawal of the ears 54 of the stops 55from cooperative relation with the inner ends of any depressed keys,obviates the necessity heretofore present, for providing mechanism torock the zero stop pawls 37 out of the paths of travel of the actuatorswhen making repeat operations.

Total key control of stops on (inferential actuators Means is alsoprovided to shift the flexible stops to their ineffective positions whenconditioning the machine to take a' total or a sub-total of the amountregistered on the totalizer 70. As is well known in the art, in totalingand sub-totaling operations, the totalizer is engaged with the actuators35 on the advance of the latter from their normal home positions, toenable the individual totalizer wheels to control the actuators on suchadvance and arrest them when they have turned their wheels to the zeropositions. However, if the interlocks that have been providedheretofore, to prevent the depression of amount keys 33 in total andsub-total taking operations, permit suflicient play to enable thedepression of a key, the result would be that such depressed key wouldarrest the corresponding actuator, before its totalizer wheel 70 hadreached its zero position, and consequently, the indicator and typecarrier would be set to indicate and print an incorrect total.

The present invention readily lends itself to overcome thisdisadvantage, to which end means is provided to shift the flexible stopsto ineffective positions relatively to the inner ends of depressed keys,and the zero stop pawls, when taking a total or sub-total. A totalizinglever 122, (Fig. 3), to control the machine for total and sub-totaloperations, is pivoted on the rock shaft 36, and has a depending arm 123carrying a stud 124 projecting laterally into the plane of a cam arm125,

fast to the above-mentioned adjusting control shaft 100.

As the totalizing lever 122 is adjusted clockwise to set the machine fora total or a sub-total operation, the stud 124 of the depending arm 123of the total lever, strikes the cam arm 125 and rocks the adjustingcontrol shaftlOO in counter-clockwise direction. The shaft 100, throughthe previously described fingers 105 and adjusting arms 10?, withdrawsthe stops out of effective position relatively to any depressed keys inthe path of travel of the actuators.

The mechanism heretofore provided, which enables the total lever to rockthe Zero stop pawls 37 out of the path of travel of the actuators, isalso eliminated by this invention.

Interlocks (not shown), but fully disclosed in the previously mentionedapplications, are provided to prevent the manipulation of both therepeat key 62 and the total lever 122, during a single operation, andalso to prevent the depression of the repeat key when the total lever isout of the add position.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the in vention to the one form orembodiment herein disclosed, for it-is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pluralitof banks of settable keys; and actuators, differentially post tionedunder control of the keys; of means carried by the actuators tocooperate with the keys when set; and means to render thefirst-mentioned means ineffective to en able the actuators to advanceirrespective of a key in its set position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof rows of settable keys; zero stop pawls controlled by the keys intheir respective rows; and a differential associated with each row ofkeys; of a means carried by each of said differentials to cooperate withany of the keys, wien set, and the zero stop pawl in its correspondingrow; and a plurality of manipulative devices to render thefirst-mentioned means ineffect1ve, relatively to the set keys and to thezero stop pawls.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with depressiblekeys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator adapted to be differentiallypositioned under control of the depressed keys; of a stop mounted on theactuator, and adapted to be variously adusted relatively to theactuator, to determine its cooperation with the zero stop pawl and thedepressed keys.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator differentially positioned undercontrol of the keys; of a stop mounted on the actuator, and adapted tobe variously adjusted relatively to the actuator; and a shifting memberadapted to engage the stop, to shift the latter into and out ofcooperative relation with the zero stop pawl, and the keys when in setpositions.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control ouslyadjustable relatively to the actuator, to cooperate with any depressedkey; and an adjusting member releasably engaging the stop to variablyposition the latter relatively to the actuator.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of thekeys; of a stop flexibly held on and variously adjustable relatively tothe actuator, to cooperate with any depressed key; and an adjustingmember releasably engaging the stop to variably position the latterrelatively to the actuator.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of thekeys; of a stop slidably mounted on the actuator to have a plurality ofpositions relatively thereto, and adapted, in one of its positions, tocooperate with a set-key; and means to shift the stop into and out ofits effective position relatively to the set key.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; and an actuator differentially positioned under control of thekeys; of a flexibly held projection mounted on the actuator, andvariously adjustable relatively to the actuator, the pro jection adaptedto cooperate with a set key when adjusted to a certain position on theactuator.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator .95. of the keys; of a stop mounted on andvaridifferentially positioned under control of the depressed keys; and amanipulative device; of a flexible projection, supported by theactuator, to coopcrate with a set key, and adapted to travel with theactuator; and means intermediate the manipulative device and theflexible projection, to withdraw the latter from cooperative relationwith the set ke IO. In a machine of the class described, the combinationwith settable keys; an actuator differentially positioned under controlof the keys; and a plurality of manipulative devices; of a shiftablemember carried by the actuator to cooperate with a set key; and meanscontrolled by either manipulative device to adjust the shiftable memberto one of its positions.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys;and a plurality of manipulative devices; of a member carried by theactuator to cooperate with a set key, and shiftable into and out ofeffective position relatively thereto; means operable by eithermanipulative device to adjust the shiftable member to one of itspositions; and means to restore the member to the other of its positionsupon the return of the operated manipulative device to its normalposition.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys;and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection supported by theactuator to cooperate with a set key; a rock shaft; means intermediatethe rock shaft and the flexible projection to withdraw the latter fromcooperative relation with a set key; and means operable by themanipulative device to actuate the rock shaft.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of the keys;and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on theactuator, and having an effective and an ineffective position relativelyto a set key; a rock shaft; means operable by the manipulative device toactuate the rock shaft; a member to rock the flexible projection to itseffective or ineffective position; and means carried by the rock shaftto rock the member.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of a set key;and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on theactuator and having an effective and an ineffective position relativelyto a set key; a rock shaft to control the flexible projection; an armsecured to the rock shaft and having a cam surface; and a protrudingelement on the manipulative device to cooperate with the cam surface toturn the rock shaft.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; an actuator differentially positioned under control of a set key;and a manipulative device; of a flexible projection mounted on theactuator and having an effective and an ineffective positon relatvely toa set key; a rock shaft to control the flexble projection; and meanscontrolled by the manipulative device to actuate the rock shaft to shiftthe flexible projection into its effective and ineffective positions.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination withmanipulative devices; and a traveling actuator differentially arrestedby the manipulative devices, when set; of a shiftable stop carried bythe actuator to normally co-act with the manipulative devices when set;and means with which the stop releasably engages to shift the stop toeffective or ineffective position.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination withmanipulative devices; and a traveling actuator differentially arrestedby the manipulative devices, when set; of a stop carried by the actuatorto normally co-act with the manipulative devices, and shiftable toeffective or ineffective position relatively to the manipulative devicesin a direction at an angle to that in which the actuator travels; andmeans to shift the stop to either of its positions.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with settablekeys; a zero stop pawl; and an actuator adapted to be differentiallypositioned under control of the keys; of a stop mounted on the actuatorand adapted to be flexibly held in position to cooperate with the zerostop pawl or the keys, and also adapted to be flexibly held in aposition out of cooperation with the zero stop pawl or the keys.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of manipulativemeans; an oscillating member having a constant position at one limit ofits travel and variable positions at the other limit of its travel; adevice on the member and adapted to control the extent of oscillationthereof as determined by the manipulative means; and means to shift thedevice relative to the member when the latter is in its constantposition only, to render the device ineffective relative to themanipulative means when the latter is in controlling position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON.

